'Postcard Bandit' helper guilty on fresh charges

Mark Russell

BRENDON Berichon, the man who helped notorious ''Postcard Bandit'' bank robber Brenden James Abbott escape from prison, was living with his wife, Rhiannon Krakouer - the sister of AFL player Andrew Krakouer - in Melbourne when he agreed to take part in the planned bashing of another man, a court has heard.

Berichon, 35, was caught by police in July 2011 carrying a skeleton mask and loaded handgun near the intended victim's home.

He pleaded guilty in the County Court on Monday to conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and being a prohibited person in possession of an unregistered firearm.

The maximum penalty is 20 years' jail.

Prosecutor Sarah Thomas told the court Berichon had opened the Bulletproof Fitness gym at Hadfield and was working as a personal trainer when he was recruited to help attack a man involved in a drug-related burglary.

Berichon was driven with two others, Omar Houssein, 20, and Vincent Myer, 23, to a Ringwood house on July 11, 2011, when armed with a loaded Smith & Wesson .38 calibre revolver and carrying a skeleton mask as a disguise.

Meyer was armed with a set of knuckledusters.

Victoria Police special operations group officers arrested the men near the intended victim's house after having earlier intercepted their mobile phone calls.